DUBAI: Just two days before the Champions Trophy final against India on Sunday, New Zealand are left sweating over the fitness of their in-form, most experienced pace bowler Matt Henry, who is currently the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 10 scalps in four matches.
The 33-year-old injured his right shoulder while taking a catch to dismiss Hein rich Klaasen in the 29th over. After going back to the dressing room, the fast bowler returned to bowl two more overs in the Kiwis’ semifinal win against South Africa.
Black Caps‘ head coach Gary Stead said on Friday that Henry’s fitness status was “unknown”. “It is still a little bit of an unknown. He is obviously pretty sore just from landing on the point of his shoulder. (We are) hopeful he will be OK,” Stead said.
Stead mentioned that the Kiwis will give Henry “every chance” to recover for the final. “It was pretty uncomfortable. The positive thing for us is he got back out there to bowl. We’ve had some scans and stuff done on him and we are going to give him every chance to be playing in this match,” Stead said.